Lampshade antenna



Nov. 11, 1958 D. c. ANDERSON LAMPSHADE ANTENNA 3 Sheets--Shee'll l Filed June 1, 1956 -lEr-z. l..

Nov. 1l, 1958 D. c. ANDERSQN LAMPSHADE ANTENNA 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l, 1956 INVENTOR. Il E'- E pg/VIL@ c, ,Vaag/'san' Nov. 11, 1958 D. c. ANDERSON 2,860,337

LAMPSHADE ANTENNA Filed June l, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 503322 fea E {Er- 1U :ez

United. States Patent O 2,860,337 LaMPsHAnn ANTENNA Donald C. Anderson, Rochester, N. Y.

Application June 1, 1956, Serial No. 588,871

Claims. (Cl. 343-721) This invention relates to a combination lamp and television antenna construction.

In television reception it is desirable, particularly at night, to provide some illumination apart from the television screen illumination, and such receiver requires an antenna. Such antennas as are located indoors are unsightly and cumbersome and in generaL, for adjustment, require mechanical alteration.

The present invention is directed to a lamp and lampshade and antenna combination wherein the lampshade, by revision of the usual structural members thereof, serves the dual purpose of performing its function as a lampshade, and in addition providing the desirable electrically isolated opposed elements Vof a television antenna. The invention is further directed to such a combination in which the upper and lower frame of a shade are employed as the opposed elements or poles of an antenna and in which the shade material or parchment acts as the insulating support fo-r retaining such elements electrically insulated and in suitable spaced relation. The invention further has to do with an arrangement employing multiple shades, and switching and circuits whereby a plurality of antenna combinations may be selected at will, in order to provide different response in respect to the signals being received. Further, the invention is directed to a lamp and antenna system wherein the lamp structure may serve as the neutral or ground, and in which the antenna for all practical purposes may b e effectively concealed from view by the lamp construction, while providing adequate, effective, and at will changeable receptivity both as to channel frequency and signal strength, whereby `the usual unsightly and cumbersome appearance of such antenna and their mechanical adjustment for such purposes is substantially eliminated.

The above and other no-vel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following ldetailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed `for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

in the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lamp and antenna structure;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the lamp and antenna;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an alternate support structure;

Figure 3a is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical frame member;

Figure 4 is a sectional View through the base substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; i Figure 5 is a sectional View through the base substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit established by the switch in the position shown in Figure `6;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic View of the circuit established by the switch o-ne position, counter-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic View of the circuit established by the switch two positions, counter-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 6;

Figure l0 is a diagrammatic View of the circuit established by the switch three positions, counter-clockwise from the position shown` in Figure 6;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic View of the circuit established by the switch four positions, counter-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 6;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit estab.- lished by the switch five positions, counter-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 6;

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic View of the circuitestablished by the switch six positions, counter-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 6;

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit established by the switch seven positions, counter-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 6;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit established by the switch eight positions, counter-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 6;

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit established by the switch nine positions, counter-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 6; Figure 17 is a diagrammatic View of the circuit estab.- lished by the switch ten positions, counter-clockwise from the position shown in Figure 6 and Figure 18 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit, established by the switch one position, clockwise fromV the position shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a hollow base 20, which may be of molded plastic or other material, a lamp pedestal extending upwardly therefrom from a position, preferably toward the rear thereof, and a pair of shades, 24 and 26 of different cross sectional area disposed in partial telescopic or cascade relation, around the lamp 28 and lamp harp 29 on the upper end of the pedestal 22. Also mounted on the base are horizontally disposed `helical inductor coils 30 and 32, the smaller coil 32 being shown as disposed coaxially within the other. The coils may be formed of heavy bare conductive wire, and are supported indi: vidually and apart from each other as by their. end terminal leads 34 and 36, and 3S and `40, which` extend to the base, and project through the top wall thereof.. Also mounted within the base is a switch 42 having a central shaft projecting through the top surface and provided with an indicator knob 44. Such switch may have as many as 12 positions with indicia as at 46.

Each of the shades 24 and 26 comprises top loops or antenna elements 4S and 52 respectively and lower loops or antenna elements 50 and 54 respectively of Stiff conductive wire adapted to hold their substantially rectangular shape. The spaced loops 48 `and 50 `and 52 and S4 of each of the shades are connected by non-conductive lampshade material 56, which may be lashed or laced to the frames or otherwise secured `as is indicated at 58.

Each of the loops of a shade pair may be considered as elements of a dipole, and each loop is open at one point, preferably adjacent its support, or lead in oonnection. As shown in Figure 3a, the ends of the loop 52 are held spaced in a plastic insulating sleeve joint 5'1.-

The shades are supported by conductive support bars 60, 62, 64 and 66, each of which extends upwardly from 3 the base from inclined apertures extending into the base edges'. The support bars 60 and 62 extend to the upper and lower loops of shade 24, at opposed corners of the shade, while the support bars 64 and 66 extend to the upper and lower loops of shade 26, at the opposed corners of the shade. The bars are so disposed as' to only contact their respective loops so that the loops remain electrically insulated from one another except for such connections as are made in the base. The ends of the bars' may be soldered or otherwise secured to the loops.

The lamp pedestal 22, in the form of a hollow metallic tube, projects downwardly through the top wall of the. base, and extends to a transverse plate 23 extending crosswise of the hollow base. The plate is secured to the side walls of the base in any suitable manner and the pedestal 22 may be anchored in such plate. The insulated lamp conductors extend upward through the tube in the usual manner, well understood in the art. The center turn of the larger coil 30 may be fixed to and in electrical contact with such pedestal tube.

If desired, the loop or frame 48 may be braced to the upper end of the lamp harp 29, as by light diagonally extending plastic rods 92 and 94, the ends of which may be lashed in with the shade lacing. Additionally, intershade bracing may be effected by rectangular plastic rod loops such as 96 and 98, the horizontal portions of which may likewise be secured to the upper frame 52, of shade 26, and the lower frame 50 of shade 24, one such loop being disposed at each end of the lampshade assembly.

In Figure 3, the support bars and loops are diagrammatically illustrated to show the electrical connections. It will be observed that such support bars do not extend upwardly in a symmetrical manner, by reason of their straight direct connection to the various loops in Figure 1. If it be desired to have such bars project upwardly in symmetrical fashion, they may assume bent shapes as is diagrammatically shown in Figure 3. In the arrangement there shown, the support bar 70 extending to frame 54 is straight as indicated. The bar 72 has a similar straight section 74, and a substantially vertical extending section 76, connecting with the corner of loop 52. The bend 78 is disposed inside of the frame 54, and out of contact therewith.

The support 80 extends straight to a region just inside frame 54, but out of contact therewith, and then is bent inwardly as at 82, to extend to the frame 50. The support bar 84 extends to the corner of the frame 54, but does not contact such frame, andthereafter extends inwardly as at 86, inside the corner of frame 50, but out of contact therewith, and thence upwardly as at 88 to frame 48. The portions 82, 76, 86 and 88 are hidden from view by being within the lampshade parchment or other material. The bars may be anchored in the base by being projected into inclined apertures such as 90 in the skirt 92 of the base, in the manner indicated, the bars extending through the skirt for making connections to the switch within the base.

In Figure 6, is shown an electrical circuit employing a double pole multiple position or contact switch 42, the switch arms being provided with fan blades 100 and 102, which are rotated together by the control knob 44. Each portion of such switch may have 12 contacts indicated collectively at 101 and 103 and twelve positions and thus ,the fan blades thereof may bridge three contacts at a time. It will be seen from the circuit that the loop 48 is provided with a connection 104 leading to the second and sixth contacts of the set of contacts 101, and that the loop 50 is similarly connected to the second and sixth contacts of the contact set 103. Loop 52 is connected to the third and eighth contacts of set 101, whereas loop 54 is connected to the third and eighth contacts of set 103. The lead 34 from the coil 30 is connected to the fourth, seventh and ninth contacts of set 101. The leads 36 and 38 of the coils 30 and 32 are connected 4 together and connected to the twelfth contact of set 101, and the seventh contact of set 103. The lead 40 of the coil 32 is connected to theV fourth and eleventh Contact of set 103.

By reason of the aforesaid connections, many and various inter-connections may be made. The switch arms and 102 are connected to terminals 120 and 122 which will be connected to the television or other receiver. In Figures 7 to 18 are shown the various connections, which may be made by rotating the switch from the position shown in Figure 6 counter clockwise step by step through l2 positions from the position shown.

While a specific form of lamp embodying two shades of generally rectangular configuration has been illustrated, it will be appreciated that the shape and arrangement may be varied and, if desired, but a single shade may be employed. Also the circuit connections and the type of switch may be varied as will be well understood in the art to provide such a variety of connections as may be desired.

In operation, by reason of the wide range of connections, the loops and coils may be quickly cut in or out and thus the connections may be readily selected which provides the best reception for a given station frequency and signal strength. For a nearby station, it may be desired to employ the connections indicated in Figures 15 or 16, for example, and for distant reception, a different selection may be made. Also the channel or frequency of the station will be found tov effect the circuit connection to be selected for providing the best reception. It will be understood that the perimetral length of the open loops of each pair may correspond to a quarter wave length. The small open loops 48 and 50 may, for example, represent a quarter wave length corresponding to a frequency as used in standard channel 6 for television transmission, whereas the open loops 52 and 54 may represent a quarter wave length as used in standard channel 2, and the inductances may vary the response by being placed in different circuits as are hereinabove referred to and illustrated. While the opening in the loop has been shown as adjacent the lead in connection which Y is the support bar of each loop, and thus provides for the maximum wave length, it will be appreciated that shorter wave length response may be had by placing the open point of the pair of loops, at a position spaced from the lead in connection. In fact, if no open point is provided or the open point be disposed diagonally across from the lead in connection to provide two equal branches, the loop would respond to wave lengths of one half that obtained by placing the open point immediately adjacent the lead in connection. The open point if placed elsewhere, would provide two elements of different length each having a different response. A portion of the loop can be isolated if desired by using two sleeve joints of the type shown in Figure 3(a), leaving the remainer of the loop as the effective element.

Although essentially but a single form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination antenna and lampshade for television reception comprising a base, four conductive support bars extending upwardly therefrom in divergent directions, a pair of lampshades each of the approximate same height, but one of larger horizontal cross section than the other disposed above said base with the smaller shade disposed above the larger shade by a distance less than the height of the larger shade, and each comprising a pair of loops of conductive material lying in substantially horizontal planes and disposed in spaced vertical relation, and joined by non-conductive lampshade material, said loops of each pair forming the upper and lower frames of the respec`- tive lampshade, each of said support bars extending to one: of said loops and being electrically connected thereto and insulated from the remaining loops, the support bars extending to the loops of one shade being connected to the respective loops thereof at opposite sides thereof, and the support bars extending to the loops of the other shade extending to the respective loops of the other shade on opposite sides thereof, a multiposition double pole switch mounted in said base, and means for connecting said switch to said support bars to effect different. connections to the loops thereof.

2. A combination antenna and lampshade for television reception comprising' a base, four conductive support bars extending upwardly therefrom in divergent directions, a pair of lampshades each of the approximate same height, but one of larger horizontal cross section than the other disposed above said base with the smaller shade disposed above the larger shade by a distance less than the height of the larger shade, and each comprising a pair of loops of conductive material lying in substantially horizontal planes and disposed in spaced vertical relation, and joined by non-conductive lampshade material, said loops of each pair forming the upper and lower frames of the respective lampshade, each of said support bars extending to one of said loops and being electrically connected thereto and insulated from the remaining loops, the support bars extending to the loops of one shade being connected to the respective ioops thereof at opposite sides thereof, and the support bars extending to the loops of the other shade extending to the respective loops of the other shade on opposite sides thereof, a multiposition double pole switch mounted in said base, means for connecting said switch to said support bars to effect different connections to the loops thereof, and a lamp pedestal extending upwardly from said base and terminating within said shades.

3. A combination antenna and lampshade for television reception comprising a base, four conductive support bars extending upwardly therefrom in divergent directions, a pair of lampshades each of the approximate same height, but one of larger horizontal cross section than the other disposed above said base with the smaller shade disposed above the larger shade by a distance less than the height of the larger shade, and each comprising a pair of loops of conductive material lying in substantially horizontal planes and disposed in spaced vertical relation, and joined by non-conductive lampshade material, said loops of each pair forming the upper and lower frames of the respective lampshade, each of said support bars extending to one of said loops and being electrically connected thereto and insulated from the remaining loops, the support bars extending to the loops of one shade being connected to the respective loops thereof at opposite sides thereof, and the support bars extending to the loops of the other shade extending to the respective loops of the other shade on opposite sides thereof, an inductor coil disposed on a horizontal axis and mounted above said base, a multiposition double pole switch mounted on said base, and means for connecting said switch to said loops and said inductor coil to effect various circuit combinations with the loops of each frame acting as opposed antenna elements, singly, or in parallel, and with or without said coil interconnected between the elements.

4. A combination antenna and lampshade for television reception comprising a base, four conductive support bars extending upwardly therefrom in divergent directions, a pair of lampshades each of the approximate same height, but one of larger horizontal cross section than the other disposed above said base with the smaller shade disposed above the larger shade by a distance less than the height of the larger shade, and each comprising a pair of loops of conductive material lying in substantially horizontal planes disposed in spaced vertical relation, and joined by non-conductive lampshade material, said loops of each pair forming the upper and lower frames of the respecf tive lampshade, each of said support bars extending. to one of said loops and being electrically connected thereto and insulated from the remaining loops, the support bars extending to the loops of one shade being connected to the respective loops thereof at opposite sides thereof, and the support bars extending to the loops of the other shade extending to the respective loops of the other shade on opposite sides thereof, an inductor coil disposed on a horizontal axis and mounted above said base, a multiposition double pole switch mounted on said base, means for connecting said switch to said loops and said inductor coil to effect various circuit combinations with the loops of each frame acting as opposed antenna elements, singly, or in parallel, and with or without said coil interconnected between the elements, and a conductive lamp pedestal extending upwardly from said base and terminating with in said shades, and electrically connected to said coil substantially midway of the length thereof.

5. A combination antenna and lampshade for television reception comprising a base, four conductive support bars extending upwardly therefrom in divergent directions, a pair of lampshades each of the approximate same height, but one of larger horizontal cross section than the other disposed above said base with the smaller shade disposed above the larger shade by a distance less than the height of the larger shade, and each comprising a pair of loops of conductive material disposed in spaced vertical relation, and joined by non-conductive lampshade material, said loops of each pair forming `the upper and lower frames of the respective lampshade, each of said support bars extending to one of said loops and being electrically connected thereto and insulated from the remaining loops, the support bars extending to the loops of one shade being connected to the respective loops thereof at opposite sides thereof, and the support bars extending to the loops of the other shade extending to the respective loops of the other shade on opposite sides thereof, a pair of inductor coils of different diameters coaxially disposed, and mounted on said base, a multiposition double pole switch mounted on said base, means for connecting said switch to said loops and either or both of said conductor coils to effect various circuit combinations with the loops of each frame acting as opposed antenna elements, singly, or in parallel, and with or without either or both of said coils interconnected between the elements, and connections to the poles of said switch for connecting to a television receiver.

6. A combination antenna and lampshade for television reception comprising a base, four conductive supp-ort bars extending upwardly therefrom in divergent directions, a pair of lampshades each of the approximate same height, but one of larger horizontal cross section than the other disposed above said base with the smaller shade disposed above the larger shade by a distance less than the height of the larger shade, and each comprising a pair of loops of conductive material disposed in spaced vertical relation, and joined by non-conductive lampshade material, said loops of each pair forming the upper and lower frames of the respective lampshade, each of said support bars extending to one of said loops and being electrically connected thereto and insulated from the remaining loops, the support bars extending to the loops of one shade being connected to the respective loops thereof at opposite sides thereof, and the support bars extending to the loops of the other shade extending to the respective loops of the other shade on opposite sides thereof, a helical inductor coil disposed on a horizontal axis and mounted above said base, a metallic lamp pedestal extending upward from said base tangentially of said coil, and connected to the center turn of said coil, said lamp pedestal having a lamp disposed within said shades, and electrically insulated from frames of said shades, and means in said base for effecting varying circuit connections between the loops of the respective shades acting as opposed antenna elements, and said inductor coil.

7. A combination antenna and lamp shade for television reception and the like, comprising a pair of planar loops of conductive material disposed one above the other and forming the upper and lower frames of a lampshade and the opposed elements of an antenna, nonconductive lampshade material extending between said loops and supporting said loops in spaced relation, a conductive lead andsupport for each loo-p, and a base of non-conductive material `from which said supports extend.

8. A combination antenna and lampshade for television reception comprising a base, conductive support bars extending upwardly and divergently from opposite sides of said base, a pair of planar conductive loops deining an area larger than said base and disposed in horizontal planes, one above the other and above said base, and forming the upper and lower frames of a lampshade, and non-conductive lampshade material joining said frames, one of said support bars being electrically connected to the lower of said loops on one side thereof, and the other extending through the lower loop to the upper loop and being connected thereto on the side opposite from the connection of the support bar of said lower loop.

9. A combination `antenna and lampshade for television reception and the like, comprising a pair of planar loops of conductive material disposed one above the other, and each lying in substantially horizontal planes and being electrically insulated from each other, nonconductive sheet lampshade material connecting'said frames, and supporting said loops in spaced relation, and a conductive lead and support extending to each loop.

10. A combination antenna and lampshade for television reception and the like, comprising a pair of planar loops of conductive material disposed one above the other, and each lying in substantially horizontal planes and being electrically insulated from each other, nonconductive sheet lampshade material connecting said frames, and supporting said loops in spaced relation, means for supporting said lampshade, `and means for effecting separate electrical connections to the spaced loops thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,583,066 Stiiel Jan. 22, 1952 2,585,670 Middlemark Feb. 12, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 428,628 Germany Dec. 20, 1920 

